News

Monthly Inventory/Acreage Reports for USDA Farm Service Agency’s NAP and ELAP Programs

September 21, 2022

The USDA Farm Service Agency’s Noninsured Disaster Assistance Program, or NAP, and Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm raised Fish Program, or ELAP, require clam growers to provide an inventory report at the beginning of the crop year, which is from October 1 through September 30 of the next year. For NAP, clam growers are required to maintain a monthly inventory. Monthly inventory records are to be kept up to date and submitted to the FSA county office by the 15th of each month for the prior month. Records are to be used for spot checks and in the

Video and Presentation from What You Need to Know about ELAP Workshop

September 16, 2022

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is responsible for the delivery of federal farm programs to help producers manage risks and recover from disasters. USDA FSA representative, Heather Boyd, provided information to shellfish growers on the availability and requirements of the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm raised Fish Program or ELAP. Information included eligible losses, required documentation and important deadlines to meet in accordance with program regulations. This workshop was co-hosted by the University of Florida Shellfish Extension Program and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Aquaculture, and was held virtually using Zoom on September

Webinar: What You Need to Know about ELAP- An Emergency Assistance Program Available for Aquaculturists

September 2, 2022

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is responsible for the delivery of federal farm programs to help producers manage risks and recover from disasters. USDA FSA will be providing information to shellfish growers on the availability and requirements of the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm raised Fish Program or ELAP. Information will include eligible losses, required documentation and important deadlines to meet in accordance with program regulations. Heather Boyd, Agricultural Program Specialist at the FSA state office will be available to answer questions. The webinar will occur on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at 3:00

Free Webinar: Seaweed Farming in the United States: Current Status, Challenges and Outlook

August 19, 2022

Seaweed aquaculture is an emerging industry in the United States. Several states are actively cultivating seaweed at commercial or research/investigative scale. Potential benefits of this new industry include job creation, increased revenue, diversification of products, and less reliance on imports. Despite three decades of research into developing the framework for domestic seaweed aquaculture, there are challenges preventing the industry’s expansion. This presentation will provide a brief overview on how seaweed (specifically sugar kelp) is cultivated, current challenges affecting the industry’s expansion, current efforts to address these challenges and current and investigative uses for seaweed. Date: August 26, 2022 Time: 1:00

Sign-up for 2023 NAP crop policy by September 30

August 17, 2022

The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) can provide shellfish growers with catastrophic coverage for losses due to natural disasters. NAP is sold and serviced by your local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office. To find your county office, go to https://www.fsa.usda.gov/state-offices/Florida/index. The basic catastrophic policy (CAT) provides coverage at 50% of the value of your inventory at 55% of the FSA established price. NAP is affordable at $325 administrative fee for a CAT policy and FSA will waive this fee for beginning, veteran, historically underserved and limited resource farmers. Growers can purchase additional coverage at 50%, 55%, 60% and

Large Predator Interaction Survey

August 16, 2022

ATTENTION FLORIDA SHELLFISH GROWERS Matthew Ajemian with Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at FAU is studying LARGE PREDATOR INTERACTIONS WITH SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE and would like shellfish growers to participate in a research study. The purpose of the study is to better understand interactions between large predators (fish, sharks, rays, and sea turtles) and the shellfish industry in Florida. A survey, completed by shellfish growers, will help to identify the extent and types of interactions being observed around the state, and guide experiments to explore mitigation methods, should they be deemed necessary. It should take no more than 10 minutes to complete

Online Training Program for Entry-level Shellfish Farm Workers

August 4, 2022

An exciting new “soup-to-nuts” online training program will allow entry-level farm workers to gain the skills and knowledge they need to be successful farm hands. The online program is tailored to Rhode Island but includes broad information that can be used across the region. The course provides visually appealing info-rich video modules, with contributions from knowledgeable and seasoned instructors within the aquaculture industry. Modules include instruction on knot-tying, boating safety, basic shellfish biology, distribution and food safety, marketing, shucking, safe-lifting practices and much more. “Much of the training is devoted to teaching folks how to avoid the many ways you

Women of the Water

June 24, 2022

June 14-15-5, 2022 The 1st Women of the Water Conference was held on June 14-15, 2022 at Mote Marine Lab and Aquaculture Park. The event was organized by Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Florida Sea Grant, and Mote Marine Laboratory. Additional sponsors included Cedar Key Aquaculture Association, Florida Shellfish Aquaculture Association, Florida Aquaculture Association, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Superior Bearing & Supply, Oyster City Brewing Company, and Aquatic Equipment and Design Inc. Over the course of two days, we explored the values of research, community, collaboration, and celebration while bringing together the current and future generations of women in aquaculture. Two presentations were given

Student Internship Opportunity

May 20, 2022

Florida Sea Grant is pleased to announce a university and college student internship program, HARVEST: Helping Aquaculture Reap Value and Enhance Student Training, offering college students paid part-time internships (up to 20 hours per week) with aquaculture businesses. This internship opportunity will place a currently enrolled student with oyster culture businesses located in Franklin and Wakulla Counties. The intern will assist in field research activities and be actively engaged in farming operations. Information on intern requirements, compensation, and schedule can be found here. How to Apply Submit a cover letter, resumé and list of three references to Leslie Sturmer (Email: Lnst@ufl.edu).

2021-22 Oyster Project Updates

May 18, 2022

Oyster Culture Workshops were held by the UF/IFAS Shellfish Aquaculture Program on May 4-5th, 2022 at Wakulla County Extension and FSU Coastal and Marine Lab. Workshops provided updates and results of applied research projects conducted in 2020-21 and introduced new projects to be conducted in 2022-23. The agenda, presentations (PDF), and recorded videos can be found at https://shellfish.ifas.ufl.edu/oyster-culture/oyster-culture-workshop-2022/.